Instructional Strategies for Middle and Secondary Social Studies: Methods, Assessment, and Classroom Management

by Bruce E. Larson, Timothy A. Keiper

Instructional Strategies for Middle and Secondary Social Studies is an exciting methods-based text that integrates appropriate management and assessment techniques with seven distinct teaching strategies. Writing explicitly for pre-service social studies teachers, veteran teacher educators Bruce E. Larson and Timothy A. Keiper offer detailed descriptions of a range of teaching techniques, from lectures to role plays to student-directed investigations. It provides a practical guide for considering when to use what strategy, how to determine that students meet learning objectives with a particular strategy, and how to keep the learning environment positive. Special features include: For any aspiring social studies teacher who wants to make the most informed decisions about day-to-day instructional strategies, the unique integration and contextualization of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and classroom management that this textbook offers will make this an invaluable resource.

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Scott Rushing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish that I had read this book before my first year of teaching. It’s not just focused on particular teaching strategies; it is also a primer on good overall teaching.

Also, I think this book could be helpful to teachers in other content areas. The examples provided in this apply specifically to Social Studies, but the strategies themselves could be used broadly by others.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part I was review to me, but I found Part II to be practical and useful. While reading about the different strategies, several ideas for lessons popped into my head. The strategies are also presented in a chart at the end of the book for easy reference. I learned a lot of tricks in my social studies methods course, but this book provides the reasoning behind the choices for cooperative learning vs. lecturing, and so on. There are also several sample rubrics and templates that this pre-service educator appreciates.